The holy month of Ramadan is extremely special for the Muslim community around the world. It is during this time that they practice the ritual of fasting (roza), which involves not eating or drinking water between sunrise (when they have sehri) and sunset (when they have iftar) for the entire month, which culminates with joy and feasting as they come together to celebrate Eid. Prachi Jain, Chief Clinical Nutritionist and HOD- Nutrition & Dietetics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram said, "Ramadan fasting acts as an intermittent fasting regime, which helps to detox the body, prevents over-eating, leads to healthy weight loss, helps reduce cholesterol, controls sugar levels and blood pressure. It also helps to prevent inflammation and boosts the immune system." But, during this fasting period, it is extremely important to have foods that can keep you energised throughout the day. And one such food that is widely consumed is dates, which are not only a rich source of fibre, calcium, and potassium, but are also tasty energy-boosters. Recommending the same, Dr Noorie, a consultant radiologist, shared that her go-to healthy snack option during Ramadan for sweet cravings is curd with dates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr.noorie (@drnoorieblogs) What are the benefits of having curd with dates? According to Jain, "Dates are not only rich in carbohydrates, but they are also packed with nutrients and fibre, which gives the feeling of satiety and fullness. They also aid in natural bowel movement and prevent constipation. Adding dates in curd is a better and natural substitute of sugar." Adding, she said that despite being a dairy product, curd is better in digestibility when compared with milk because of "probiotic bacteria, which helps to maintain gut flora. It is not only rich in carbohydrates, but is packed with other nutrients like proteins, fats, calcium, vitamin A and D, which make it nutritious." "Curd is also good for the bones and joints as it contains a high amount of calcium. This nutrient helps to strengthen the bones and increase bone density. Apart from this, curd is also beneficial in regulating cholesterol levels, reducing high blood pressure and promoting weight loss," noted Dr Noorie. Dr Noorie also shared some benefits of having curd with dates: "Increasing your gut bacteria is important to improve your overall health and there is nothing better than having probiotics like yoghurt and curd for it. The combination of curd and raisins works on your gut in two ways - curd acts as a probiotic and raisins, with their high content of soluble fibre, works as a prebiotic. Together they help to neutralise the bad bacteria and promote the growth of good bacteria," she wrote in the caption. Other health benefits of curd with dates are: 👉🏻Keep your teeth and gums healthy: Rise in the number of bad bacteria in the gut also impacts oral health. To keep your gums and teeth healthy, include this post-meal snack in your diet. 👉🏻Good for the bones and joints : Both raisins and curd contain a high amount of calcium. This nutrient helps to strengthen the bones and increase bone density. 👉🏻Curd also helps regulate cholesterol levels, reducing high blood pressure and promoting weight loss. 👉🏻Curd with raisins is highly recommended for those dealing with constipation. Recipe *In 100 grams of unsweetened yoghurt, add 2 pinches of amchur powder or chaat powder. *Mix it with a piece of date. You can also use 2-3 dates as per your taste, it will increase the calorie count as well. *Add 1/2 piece of walnut to the mixture. *Your dish is ready to eat! 📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don't miss out on the latest updates!
